Broadway & The Bard

"An odd but enjoyable solo show, starring the stage veteran Len Cariou, that juxtaposes monologues and sonnets with songs from musicals...Mr. Cariou’s singing voice has naturally lost some — well, frankly, much — of its power and agility since his heyday...Mr. Cariou’s delivery of his Shakespearean set pieces is exemplary, across a broad range of emotional territory." Full Review

"The show is warm and delightful. At age 76, the actor's sharp and stinging presence has mellowed a bit and his singing voice has lost a bit of its range, but his aged wisdom and craft as an actor remains of a high caliber. Len Cariou certainly has more tales worth attending up his talented sleeve." Full Review

"What more could the 76-year-old legend want? The answer’s there in 'Broadway and the Bard’s' second number: 'Applause.' Once an ovation addict, always an ovation addict. Trouble is, Cariou may be getting more out of us than we him...While the narration between sections is crusty and halting, Cariou’s sonorous recitation of Shakespeare finds music in the verse. His singing, however, is not what it once was...Cariou’s vocal delivery is sadly underpowered." Full Review

"The years vanished as the actor once again invested Lerner's words with a devastating sense of loss and yearning....If the rest of 'Broadway and the Bard' were of this quality, I'd be busy rustling up superlatives, but much of the time this is one of the season's odder entertainments...Cariou's voice is seriously diminished and he spends much of the evening pushing it to places it has no business going...'Broadway and the Bard' certainly has its pleasures, but not nearly as many as I had hop... Full Review

"There are few surprises among the speeches but the songs are all a delight...Mr. Cariou is as good an actor as he’s ever been, providing honest, clearly spoken, insightful readings of his dramatic pieces, but, sadly, his vocal instrument is no longer the rich baritone it once was...This forces him to act his songs as much as he sings them; happily, in this he never falters, squeezing so many nuances from the lyrics that you willingly forgive what the years have wrought." Full Review

"Although the revue title may suggest otherwise, the songs aren't always plucked from musical adaptations of Shakespeare...The fathomless pathos Cariou instills in it is show stopping as well as heart stopping...As might be expected, Cariou no longer has his second age voice. The sixth-age one, however, is well worth hearing. The veteran performer continues to exert masterful control over the lines in Shakespeare plays to which he's committed so much of his distinguished career." Full Review

"Even in the best of moments, little of this seems necessary or insightful. You won't learn much about Cariou or Shakespeare…And though Cariou remains a powerful and creative actor, his singing voice is far from its earlier glory...This presents no such liability on the monologues, which are brimming with musicality, variety, and excitement...Even so, Cariou is so gifted and so likable that you're willing to forgive him and the show a lot." Full Review

"He gives everything he has, despite a baritone that has seen better days and high notes that now come as whispers...The work is a strange brew...The thematic structure is loosey goosey...He often seems to draw a blank when delivering the short transitional pieces of dialogue between scenes. These moments are betrayed with such looks of panic that at one point I honestly thought I was about to witness a medical emergency." Full Review

"Mr. Cariou and Mr. Janas are a successful team and have a genuinely good time working together. This authenticity and pure honesty translate to the audience in remarkable ways…The iconic stage actor and accompanist, in collaboration with director Barry Kleinbort, triumph in achieving Mr. Cariou’s idea of combining his two great loves – Shakespeare and the American Musical. The eighty-minute melding of superb soliloquy and memorable song could not be finer." Full Review

"A charmingly diverting if light-weight evening of thematic pairings of monologues with songs from among Broadway’s masters…While Len Cariou seems to have missed his opportunity for a deep analysis of the Shakespeare that he has included, his aim seems to have been to give a memoir in story and song. Under the direction of Barry Kleinbort, his breezy, nonchalant manner is quite infectious and he makes the 80 minutes pass as in a moment." Full Review

"A highly diverting 80-minute solo show at that takes advantage of the actor’s many talents. While Cariou’s baritone voice has dimmed in power from his 'Sweeney Todd' days, it can still boom when needed, and his facility with the Bard’s language makes one wish that someone would cast him in one of the umpteenth Shakespearean production New York sees every year...You needn’t brush up on your Shakespeare to enjoy this outing; just sit back and take it all in." Full Review

"A highpoint of this evening is simply listening to Cariou put each of the Bard’s contributions in context. He’s a natural and enthusiastic storyteller…Engaging performance is marred by a denouement of volume wherein Cariou pushes his vocal to places it won’t comfortably go…Playing is deft. Director Barry Kleinbort’s excellent contribution to the shape of this piece is almost visible...If only a more consistent performance could be achieved." Full Review

"A production of pure genius. The melding of Shakespeare’s lyrical iambic pentameter combined with the melodies of some of Broadway’s most enduring songs and the mastery of a seasoned actor creates an evening that I will not forget for a very long time...I finally saw how Shakespeare should be spoken – with a lyrical truthfulness and extreme attention to detail. His visualization in the throws of various monologues was spellbinding...Kleinbort’s direction is sophisticated and sublime." Full Review

"It is a delicious confection of Shakespeare and Broadway songs...Cariou gets an A for straddling 'Broadway and the Bard' and discovering the common romantic ground between them...At its best moments, it's a dynamic pas de deux. But not all of Shakespeare's verse can be shoehorned that easily into the iconic songs...Cariou's voice is not as mellifluous as it was in years past, and he did need a line, or two...However, Cariou more than makes up for this by his sheer charisma." Full Review

"'Broadway and The Bard' ultimately succeeds because, throughout, Cariou commands attention during the spoken portions of the piece (one longs for him to take on some Shakespeare in the city soon). And when singing, his voice has a suppleness to it that charms." Full Review

"It should be noted that this work, a memoir really, puts greater demands on the vocal cords than Verdi or Wagner. Len Cariou is onstage without respite for 80 minutes. The narration is a joy and all the Shakespeare is splendidly performed. But the songs are problematic. Where they’re pianissimo they are sung superbly. But full-throated offerings that are forte are less effective. There’s a marked tremolo. That noted, the show is fun and there’s no better way to spend 80 minutes." Full Review

"Cariou is able to project informality and intimacy...He also intersperses the selections with entertaining and informative chat on his experiences…Cariou travels easily from speech to song and back again. His singing pipes are no longer those of the man he once was, but his technique is such that he always comes through...For lovers of words and songs, 'Broadway and the Bard' is altogether a delightful way to spend an evening in the presence of an artful, seasoned performer." Full Review